Here are the winners of YAC's Observatory Houses competition

The Italian Exhibition Group and the Italian government recently partnered to launch the Observatory Houses project with Young Architects Competitions. Aiming to find a new use for Roccascalegna castle, the competition called on designers to take advantage of the potential of a dream-like setting with remarkable skies. The project is aimed at creating the first and most suggestive observatory houses in Italy, while calling on submissions to create a sustainable and exclusive house model that will ensure the protection and improvement of such a historic site. 

The ideas-based Observatory Houses competition tasked designers and architects with creating a "place of spirituality and meditation" for those wanting a respite from work and overcrowded cities. After numerous submissions, winners have been chosen by by a jury panel made up of renowned architects, including Enrique Sobejano of Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos, HHF Architects co-founder Simon Frommenwiler and Snøhetta architect Felix Perasso. Take a look at the winning projects bellow!

↑ 2nd Prize Winner. Team: MAYBE. Members: Sebastien Lafresiere, Alexis Beaussart.

↑ 3rd Prize Winner. Team: NE_HOUSE. Members: Konstantina Papanikolaou, Julen Aguinagalde Lopez de Calle, Anastasios Theodorakakis.

↑ Gold Mention. Team: Architectress. Members: Sheung Chui Carol Nung, Ya Suo, Jueying Liu.

↑ Gold Mention. Team: MAKA. Members: Marta Mączka, Grzegorz Mączka.

↑ Gold Mention. Team: Romain Bonino. Members: Romain Bonino.

↑ Gold Mention. Team: Studio Pare. Members: Carolina Medici, Mark Adamson, Andrea De Matteis , Angelica Tortora.